RD
Rachel Dern
  • Environmental Earth Science
  • Class of 2015
  • Windsor Locks, CT

Eastern Connecticut State University Student Rachel Dern of Windsor Locks Member of Eastern Habitat for Humanity Chapter

2012 Mar 1

Rachel Dern '15 of Windsor Locks, CT, is a member of Habitat for Humanity at Eastern Connecticut State University. Dern is majoring in Environmental Earth Science.

The purpose of Eastern's Habitat for Humanity club is to increase awareness of substandard housing on campus and in the community. The club assists local Habitat for Humanity chapters in the effort to eradicate substandard housing issues. Members benefit from gaining community service hours, learning construction skills, traveling, enhancing their resumes, meeting friends, becoming involved in the University's community and helping families suffering from poverty.

Each November, the club raises awareness about homelessness by sleeping outdoors in cardboard boxes for 24 hours in an event known as the "Shack-a-thon." This event raises money for the club and aids the club addressing the problem of homelessness around the world. Club members also assist in building affordable houses in the Windham area each month; student members work side-by-side with the Windham chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

This spring, as in prior years, club members will hire themselves out to area residents who need someone to do yard work for them - anything from cleaning up a garage to raking leaves, taking air conditioners out of windows and even packing up a moving van. This past fall semester, the club initiated a new event. Students were provided with limited supplies and requested to build the best and most effective "house" they could. During the fall semester, the club also participated in World Habitat Day to inform the community about the mission and work of Habitat for Humanity.

More than 30 percent of the full-time students enrolled at Eastern now participate in at least one club/organization, an increase of almost 10 percent since fall 2008. Students who participate in clubs/organizations excel in the classroom and do better academically than students who do not participate. In spring 2011, 1,345 full-time students participating in clubs had an average GPA of 3.06, much higher than the 2.84 average for those students not taking part in any of the nearly 70 clubs/organizations.

Clubs/organizations planned and implemented almost 600 events last academic year. These programs have a direct impact on the daily life of all students on Eastern's campus. The programs range from social to educational, physical to spiritual, and civic engagement programs that equally affect the community.

Eastern Connecticut State University is the state's public liberal arts university. Eastern serves approximately 5,600 students each year on its Willimantic campus and satellite locations.